Earthquake in Turkiye and Syria

Update 27 March 2023

Correspondents, Vitsan A.Ş, inform that Limak Port is expected to recommence operations on 8 April 2023.

Update 21 February 2023

On the evening of 20 February, Hatay (Iskenderun) in Turkiye was hit by two further earthquakes of 6.4 and 5.8 magnitude respectively.
Correspondents, Vitsan A.Ş, has provided an announcement from Limak Port dated 17 February on port status (prior to yesterday’s developments), which can be read here.

Update 20 February 2023

Correspondents, Vitsan A.Ş, inform that most Iskenderun Ports are being used for humanitarian aid vessels. Isdemir Port is now resuming the cargo operations of planned vessels.

Update 17 February 2023

Correspondents, Vitsan A.Ş, inform that Limak Port authority has issued a notification on the current status of the port.

Read the notification (which is in both Turkish and English) here.

Update 16 February 2023

Correspondents, Vitsan A.Ş, further advise that roads to Iskenderun ports are open to traffic for private transportation and trucks. Most of the Iskenderun ports are used for berthing of humanitarian aid and military vessels.

Port status:

• Limak port is closed. This is the most affected port from the devastating earthquake – the damage assessment of the port is in progress and the port is not able to allow any third party for inspection inside the port area.
• Gubretas Port: No cargo operations expected until March 2023.
• Yazici Port: Cargo operations are being completed on those vessels that had operations suspended. The other planned vessels may be directed to their other port in Kocaeli / TURKIYE.
• Assan Port: Mainly used for container handling and the cargo operation status is not certain yet.
• Ekinci Port: Port is operational.
• Tosyali Port: Cargo operations are being completed on those vessels that had operations suspended. Currently operating at half capacity.
• Atakas Port: Port operations will continue dependent on numbers of staff willing to return to work.
• Isdemir Port: No cargo operations while damage assessment is in progress.
• MMK Port: Currently operating at half capacity.
• Ports in Dortyol, Ceyhan and Yumurtalik are operational.

Update 15 February 2023

Lawyers ErsoyBilgehan advise:

• A state of emergency was declared in the cities of Adana, Adıyaman, Diyarbakır, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye and Şanlıurfa for three months starting from 8 February 2023.
• A Presidential Decree issued on 11 February 2023 stated that time-bars relating to the berth, use and termination of rights, including the periods for filing court proceedings, commencing enforcement proceedings, applications, complaints, objections, notifications, submissions, and mandatory administrative application periods have been suspended until 6 April 2023.

Update 13 February 2023

Correspondents, Vitsan Mümessillik ve Müşavirlik A.Ş, further advise:

• BP Azerbaijan had suspended the loading of Azerbaijan petroleum product through the BTC line (Baku – Tiflis – Ceyhan line) at Botas Terminal – however, the loading operation of vessels through BTC line at Botas Terminal is now in progress and the first tanker vessel berthed on 12 February 2023.
• The status of Iskenderun ports remains the same, except the ports of Atakas and Tosyali have allowed some vessels to complete the cargo operations that had been suspended. The cargo operation status of these ports after this is uncertain.

Update 10 February 2023

Correspondents, Vitsan Mümessillik ve Müşavirlik A.Ş, further advise:

• Sonmez Port in Ceyhan, Adana region is operational – first vessel berthed on 10 February 2023 early morning hours.
•  The BOTAS terminal is continuing cargo operations but cargo operation through the BTC line in BOTAS terminal has been suspended.
• Vessels have berthed at Toros Jetty at Ceyhan and cargo operations are continuing.
• Atakas Port in Iskenderun region is operational – first vessel berthed on 10 February 2023 early morning hours.
• The tanker terminals (including the LNG terminals) around Dortyol, Iskenderun region are currently operational
• All other Iskenderun ports remain closed. There are still difficulties to obtain detailed information from the local people due to disaster situation and no further information has been received regarding the physical condition of ports.
• The Directorate General of Maritime has advised that the vessels waiting for berthing at Limak Port, Iskenderun should be directed to the other available ports.

Update: 8 February 2023

On Monday 6 February 2023, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Gaziantep in south-eastern Turkiye. This was followed by a 7.5 magnitude tremor about 60 miles (100km) further north in the Elbistan district of Kahramanmaras province.

The earthquakes have affected a wide area of south-eastern Turkey and northern Syria, with Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan declaring a state of emergency in 10 provinces.

Image credit: USGS and BBC

Correspondents in Turkiye, Vitsan Mümessillik ve Müşavirlik A.Ş, have provided the following updates regarding the status of ports and shipping in the affected region:

• Limak Port in Iskenderun sustained physical damage, leading to the collapse of container stows. This resulted in a serious fire at the container stowage area – by Tuesday evening, the fire was reported to be under control.
• All other ports in Iskenderun region are not operational and the vessels are waiting at anchorage area.
• Communication to and from affected areas remains difficult.

We will update this information as the situation develops.